System for transporting turbomachinery

ABSTRACT

A system includes a turbomachine skid including a skid body configured to support a turbomachine and a modular transportation system. The modular transportation system includes one or more supports and one or more transportation attachments that may be removably coupled to the supports, the transportation attachments being interchangeable with one or more different transportation attachments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to turbomachines,such as turbines. More particularly, the disclosed subject matterrelates to a system for transporting turbomachinery, such as varioussections of turbine systems.

A variety of turbomachine systems may be housed within an enclosure,such as a small building or station dedicated to the turbomachinesystem. For example, a turbine system, such as a gas turbine drivenelectrical generator, may be disposed in an enclosure having variouscontrols, fluid lines, and associated support systems. Occasionally, oneor more sections of the turbine system may require maintenance, repair,or servicing at a remote site. Unfortunately, the one or more sectionscannot be moved by a single transportation mechanism from the enclosureto the remote site. For example, the one or more sections may not haveadequate support or stabilization for transportation on a vehicle, suchas a truck or locomotive. By further example, the one or more sectionsmay not be equipped for transportation at the remote site. Accordingly,it may be particularly difficult to transport the one or more sectionsfrom the enclosure to the remote site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended tolimit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodimentsare intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of theinvention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms thatmay be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In a first embodiment, a system includes a turbomachine skid. Theturbomachine skid includes a skid body configured to support aturbomachine and a modular transportation system. The modulartransportation system includes at least one support disposed on the skidbody and at least one transportation attachment removably coupled to theat least one support. The at least one transportation attachment isinterchangeable with at least one different transportation attachment.

In a second embodiment, a system includes a turbomachine skid. Theturbomachine skid includes a skid body configured to support aturbomachine and a modular transportation system comprising at least onesupport disposed on the skid body. The at least one support isconfigured to support at least one transportation attachment selectedfrom a plurality of different transportation attachments.

In a third embodiment, a system includes a modular transportation systemconfigured to change a turbomachine skid between a plurality ofdifferent transportation configurations. The modular transportationsystem includes a plurality of different transportation attachmentsconfigured to interchangeably mount to the turbomachine skid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for transporting aturbomachine from a turbomachine platform to a remote site;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a turbomachine systemhaving a turbomachine disposed on a turbomachine platform, illustratinga path of movement of a turbomachine skid along the platform;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of theturbomachine system of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating aturbomachine skid secured in a docking station;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of theturbomachine system of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating aturbomachine skid partially removed from the docking station;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of theturbomachine system of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating amodular transportation system disposed along a corner of a turbomachineskid;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIG. 5, equipped with a precision rollertransportation attachment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIGS. 5 and 6, equipped with the precisionroller transportation attachment in a raised position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIGS. 5 and 6, equipped with the precisionroller transportation attachment in a lowered position;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIG. 5, equipped with a rough rollertransportation attachment;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIGS. 5 and 9, equipped with the rough rollertransportation attachment;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation attachment of FIG. 5, equipped with a stabilizertransportation attachment; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the modulartransportation system of FIGS. 5 and 11, equipped with the stabilizertransportation attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not bedescribed in the specification. It should be appreciated that in thedevelopment of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering ordesign project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madeto achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presentinvention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended tomean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

The present disclosure is directed to systems for transportingturbomachinery components (e.g., one or more sections of a turbinesystem) on a skid. The skid includes a plurality of modulartransportation attachments that may be interchangeable with differenttransportation attachments, and each attachment is suitable forsupporting the skid during a desired form of transportation. Forexample, the skid may be equipped with precision roller attachments(e.g., small diameter rollers) when fine adjustments to the position ofthe skid are desired. The skid may, instead, be equipped with roughroller attachments (e.g., large diameter rollers) when it is desired tomove the skid with less precision, over greater distances of travel,and/or over more rough surfaces. In addition, the skid may be equippedwith stabilizer attachments to act as shock absorbers when the skid istransported in the bed of a vehicle. These and other attachments may beinterchangeable, such that the same skid may be used to support aturbomachine as it is transported to different locations.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplarymethod 10 for transporting a turbomachine (e.g., one or more sections ofa turbine system) from a platform to a remote site. The turbomachine mayinclude a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a hydroturbine, a wind turbine,or any turbine system. For example, a turbomachine skid may support aturbomachine section, such as a single stage or multi-stage compressorsection, a combustor section having one or more combustors, a singlestage or multi-stage turbine section, or any combination thereof. Incertain embodiments, the method 10 may transport a first turbomachinefrom the platform to the remote site, and also install a secondturbomachine on the platform to reduce downtime while the firstturbomachine undergoes repairs at the remote site. Thus, the disclosedmethod 10 may be reversed to install a turbomachine on the platform.

The method 10 for transporting the turbomachine (e.g., one or moresections of a turbine system) includes equipping a turbomachine skidwith a first transportation attachment (e.g., a precision rollerattachment), as represented by block 12. The skid may support theturbomachine throughout the entire transportation process, and differenttransportation attachments may be coupled to the skid for each length ofthe journey from the platform to the remote site, or vice versa. Theprecision roller attachment, described in detail below, may aid thetransportation of the skid, and supported turbomachine, along theplatform. Once fitted with this attachment, the skid may be moved alongthe platform from a docked position to an undocked position, asrepresented by block 14. A docking station, discussed in detail below,maintains the alignment of the skid with the platform and, consequently,the alignment of the turbomachine with other components of theturbomachine system (e.g., gas turbine system) supported by theplatform. The method 10 also includes moving the skid from the platformto a platform extension, as represented by block 16. The platformextension may be a structure that is removably coupled to the platformin order to support the skid as the turbomachine is transported awayfrom the platform.

The method 10 also includes lifting the turbomachine skid from theplatform extension, from a lowered position to a raised position, asrepresented by block 18. The skid may be lifted by a forklift or cranefrom its position on the platform extension. Further, the method 10includes equipping the turbomachine skid with a second transportationattachment (e.g., stabilizer attachment), as represented by block 20.Still further, the method 10 includes lowering the turbomachine skidonto the bed of a vehicle (e.g., truck bed), as represented by block 22,and transporting the turbomachine skid to the remote site, asrepresented by block 24. The stabilizer attachments may act as shockabsorbers, thereby helping to reduce movement or vibration of theturbomachine while on the bed of a truck or other vehicle traveling overrough terrain.

Once at the remote site, the turbomachine skid may be lifted from thebed of the vehicle, as represented by block 26, and equipped with athird transportation attachment (e.g., a rough roller attachment), asrepresented by block 28. As before, the skid may be lifted by a forkliftor crane, depending on the size of the turbomachine and the availableequipment. The rough roller attachment may be a caster wheel or otherattachment that allows for movement of the skid about a relatively openarea, such as a shop floor. Finally, the method includes lowering theturbomachine skid at the remote site, as represented by block 30. Fromthis position, the turbomachine may be transported about a shop floor ofthe remote site in order to receive maintenance before being returned toa turbomachine platform (e.g., gas turbine platform).

It should be noted that the method 10 of transporting a turbomachinefrom a platform to a remote site may also be applied in reverse. Thatis, a turbomachine may be transported from a remote site to a platformusing similar techniques of lifting, lowering, and changing thetransportation attachments on a turbomachine skid. The method 10 may beapplied in other orders as well, depending on where and how theturbomachine requires transportation. For example, a skid may be removedfrom a turbomachine platform to a platform extension using precisionroller attachments, lifted from the platform extension by a forklift orcrane, equipped with rough roller attachments, and lowered to a surfacealong which the skid may be permitted to roll.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of certain components of a turbomachinesystem 32 being removed from a turbomachine platform 34. In theillustrated embodiment, the turbomachine system 32 is a gas turbinesystem, and the platform 34 is a gas turbine platform. However, thesystem 32 and platform 34 may include any type of turbomachine.Nevertheless, the following discussion presents embodiments of a modulartransportation system 36 in the context of a gas turbine system. Thecomponents being removed form a turbomachine 38 (e.g., at least part ofa gas turbine engine), which may include a single or multi-stage gascompressor, a single or multi-stage turbine, one or more combustors, ora combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, other turbomachinecomponents 40 and 42 (e.g., gas turbine components) are fixed to theplatform 34 on opposite sides of the turbomachine 38. For example, thefirst turbomachine component 40 may be an air intake section and/or oneor more front stages of a compressor, and the second turbomachinecomponent 42 may be a combustor outlet, a power turbine, or an exhaustsection. All components of the turbomachine system 32, including theturbomachine 38 to be transported, may be disposed relatively close toeach other on the platform 34. As discussed below, the modulartransportation system 36 is configured to facilitate installation andremoval of the turbomachine 38 relative to the platform 34, while alsoproviding flexibility or modularity in transporting the turbomachine 38in a plurality of contexts.

The turbomachine 38 is supported by a turbomachine skid 44, which may bea platform or pallet separate from the platform 34. For example, theskid 44 may be approximately 2 to 10 meters in length and width, and theskid 44 is configured to move independently from the platform 34. Theillustrated skid 44 has a skid body 46 in addition to the modulartransportation system 36 with one or more supports 48 (e.g., 4 to 20supports 48), which may include receptacles 50 configured to selectivelyhold a plurality of different transportation attachments 52. Forexample, the modular transportation system 36 may include a support 48having a transportation attachment 52 in each corner (e.g., fourcorners) of the skid body 46. In this way, the skid 44 may be equippedwith at least one transportation attachment 52 to allow movement of theskid 44 relative to the platform 34. In the illustrated embodiment, thetransportation attachments 52 include precision roller transportationattachments 54. For example, a precision roller attachment 54 may beremovably coupled to each support 48 (e.g., four attachments 54 for foursupports 48). Other numbers and arrangements of precision rollerattachments 54 may be possible and appropriate for transportation of theskid 44. For instance, more precision roller attachments 54 may becoupled to a relatively larger skid 44 for distributing the total weightof the skid 44 and turbomachine 38 more evenly across the platform 34.The precision roller attachments 54 may be arrangements of one or morespherical wheels or omni-directional rollers designed to facilitaterelatively precise movement of the skid 44 across a flat smooth surface.Such precision may be useful for positioning the skid 44 properly on theplatform 34, since the turbomachine 38 atop the skid 44 may undergoprecision alignment with the other turbomachine components 40 and 42 inorder for the turbomachine system 32 to operate.

The illustrated system 32 includes a docking system 56 with one or moredocking stations 58 disposed on the platform 34 for aligning the skid 44and supported turbomachine 38 with the other turbine components 40 and42. In the illustrated embodiment, two docking stations 58 on the rightside of the skid 44 guide the skid 44 from an undocked position to adocked position, which aligns the turbomachine 38 with the other turbinecomponents 40 and 42 on the platform 34. However, the docking system 56may include other numbers and arrangements of docking stations 58. Forexample, two additional docking stations 58 may be located to the rightof the two precision roller attachments 54 shown on the left side of theskid 44.

The method 10 of FIG. 1 included moving the skid 44 from a dockedposition to an undocked position on the platform 34. In FIG. 2, an arrowillustrates this step 14, showing the movement of the skid 44 away fromthe docking stations 58. The precision roller attachments 54 allow theskid 44 to move across the platform 34 in this way. One or more smoothplates 60 may be disposed on the platform 34 to provide a flat smoothsurface upon which the precision roller attachments 54 are permitted toroll, carrying the skid 44 from the docked position to the undockedposition. The smooth plates 60 may be stainless steel or any othersuitable material. Although the illustrated embodiment shows two smoothplates 60, other numbers and layouts of smooth plates 60 are possibledepending on the number and relative placement of precision rollerattachments 54 on the skid 44.

As described in FIG. 1, the method 10 of moving the turbomachine 38 awayfrom the platform 34 also involves moving the skid 44 from the platform34 to a platform extension 62. This step is illustrated by the arrow 16in FIG. 2, which shows the movement of the skid 44 off the platform 34and onto the platform extension 62. The platform extension 62 may beremovably coupled to the platform 34, allowing the platform extension 62to be added when the skid 44 needs to be removed from or loaded onto theplatform 34. The top surface of the platform extension 62 may be smooth(e.g., smooth plates 64), allowing the precision roller attachments 54to easily move along the top of the platform extension 62. The platformextension 62 also may include braces 66 along the sides of the platformextension 62 to help contain and guide the skid 44 while rolling alongthe platform extension 62. The skid 44, which supports the turbomachine38, may be pulled toward the platform extension 62 with cables 68attached to the skid 44. Such cables 68 may extend from winches 70positioned adjacent the platform extension 62 and configured to reel inthe cables 68 when turned, either manually or by one or more motors.Similar cables 68 extending from winches 70, positioned on the platform34 opposite the docking stations 58, may be used to move the skid 44away from a docked position within the docking stations 58 to anundocked position on the platform 34. Alternatively, these operationsmay be performed in reverse by positioning the winches 70 and cables 68opposite the platform extension 62 and adjacent the docking stations 58.In this way, the skid 44 may be pulled from the platform extension 62 tothe platform 34 and from an undocked position to a docked position inthe docking stations 58.

Once the skid 44 is completely moved onto the platform extension 62, aforklift or crane may be attached to the skid 44 in order to lift theskid 44 and the supported turbomachine 38 to a raised position. If aforklift is used, the forks may be inserted into slots within the skid44. If a crane is used, hooks extending from the crane may be placedthrough eyes built into the sides of the skid 44. Once the skid 44 islifted into a raised position, by whichever method, the precision rollerattachments 54 may be removed and replaced with different transportationattachments 52. For example, the different interchangeabletransportation attachments 52 may include stabilizers, or one or morerollers, which may be a spherical wheel, an omni-directional roller(e.g., the precision roller transportation attachment 54), or an annularwheel (e.g., rough roller attachment). These different transportationattachments 52 may allow the modular transportation system 36 to bechanged between many different transportation configurations.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial perspective views of the system 32 of FIG. 2,taken within line 3-3. As illustrated, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodimentof the docking station 58 of FIG. 2. The docking station 58 may guide acorner 72 (or another portion) of the skid 44 from an undocked positionto a docked position on the platform 34. In this docked position, theskid 44 may be secured (e.g., bolted) to the platform 34 and theturbomachine 38 may be coupled to the other components 40 and 42. Thedocking station 58 may include a first docking guide 74 located on thecorner 72 of the skid 44, and a second docking guide 76 located on theplatform 34. As illustrated in FIG. 2, there may be a first pair ofdocking guides 74 and 76 and a second pair of docking guides 74 and 76,each pair located at different corresponding locations of the skid 44and the platform 34. For example, the skid 44 may be equipped with apair of first docking guides 74 configured to interface with acorresponding pair of second docking guides 76 positioned on theturbomachine platform 34.

The docking guides 74 and 76 are configured to interface with oneanother with at least one male-female connection, such as first andsecond male-female connections 78 and 80. The first docking guide 74 mayinclude a pin 82 that is designed to fit in a hole 84 formed through atab 86 of the second docking guide 76, thereby defining the firstmale-female connection 78. The first docking guide 74 may also include aflanged base 88 having a recess 90 configured to receive the tab 86,thereby defining the second male-female connection 80. The pin 82 mayfeature a tapered end 92 for a more guided insertion into the hole 84through the tab 86. The length of the pin 82 may be greater than thedistance between the turbomachine 38 supported on the skid 44 and theadjacent turbomachine component 42 (e.g., 1.1 to 3 times the distance).This may ensure that the turbomachine 38 comes into alignment with theadjacent turbomachine component 42 before contacting the component. FIG.3 illustrates the docking station 58 while the skid 44 is in a fullydocked position 94, and FIG. 4 illustrates the movement of the skid 44from the docked position 94 to an undocked position 96, as indicated bythe arrows 14. As illustrated, the guides 74 and 76 are configured tofacilitate alignment between the skid 44, the platform 34, and thecomponents 40 and 42 to more efficiently and accurately install andremove the turbomachine 38.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the corner 72 of the skid 44 of FIG.2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating the transportation attachment 52,54 coupled to the support 48 of the modular transportation system 36.The corner 72 has the support 48 configured to support variousinterchangeable transportation attachments 52, such as the precisionroller attachment 54, in the receptacle 50. Once the transportationattachment 52 is inside the receptacle 50, the support 48 at leastpartially surrounds the desired transportation attachment 52. In certainembodiments, the receptacle 50 may feature an upper wall 99, which maybe removable to provide access to the inside of the receptacle 50, suchthat the attachment 52, 54 may be changed to another attachment 52without lifting the skid 44. The transportation attachments 52 may beselectively coupled to a portion of the receptacle 50 with a removablemounting assembly 98, such as an ACME screw assembly, which may includea bearing support 101 and a tool-engageable head 103 coupled with theupper wall 99, as discussed in detail below.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the corner 72 of the skid 44 ofFIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating the transportationattachment 52, 54 coupled to the support 48 of the modulartransportation system 36. As discussed above, the receptacle 50 isequipped with the precision roller attachment 54 to facilitate precisionmovements along the platform 34 and/or the platform extension 62. In theillustrated embodiment, the precision roller attachment 54 includes aplurality of omni-directional precision rollers 100, such as four balltransfer units 102, coupled to a lower wall 104. In turn, the lower wall104 is coupled to a lead screw, such that the screw assembly 98 may beoperated to raise and lower the lower wall 104, and thus raise and lowerthe four ball transfer units 102. Each ball transfer unit 102 includes asphere 106 disposed partially in a restraining fixture 108, and thespheres 106 are permitted to rotate freely within the restrainingfixture 108 in any direction (i.e., omni-directional). Thus, when thespheres 106 of the precision roller attachment 54 contact a surface(e.g., the smooth plate 60), the spheres 106 may roll in any directionalong the surface, carrying the attached skid 44 across the surface. Thespheres 106, each with a relatively small contact point and three axesof rotation, allow the skid 44 to move and change direction along thesmooth plate 60 with relatively high precision. Therefore, the precisionroller attachment 54 may be beneficial for moving a turbomachine 38along the platform 34 and platform extension 62.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional side views of the corner 72 of theskid 44 of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustrating thetransportation attachment 52, 54 coupled to the support 48 of themodular transportation system 36. As illustrated, the screw assembly 98includes an ACME nut 110 coupled with the lower wall 104 and an ACMElead screw 112 extending through the receptacle 50 and supported by thebearing support 101 on the upper wall 99. The vertical displacement ofthe nut 110 may be adjusted by turning the threaded lead screw 112 viathe tool-engageable head 103, which may be turned using a tool (e.g.,wrench). The bearing support 101 may allow rotation of the lead screw112 about the axis 114 without translating the lead screw 112 along thedirection of the axis 114. As the lead screw 112 is turned, the nut 110,which may be threaded onto the lead screw 112 in fixed orientation withrespect to the axis 114, may be forced to travel up or down the leadscrew 112 in order to maintain its orientation. In this way, the screwassembly 98 may be used to adjust the height of the transportationattachment 52 relative to the skid body 46.

In particular, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a height adjustable feature 116(e.g., threaded connection between the nut 110 and screw 112) of thescrew assembly 98, which removably secures and provides heightadjustment of the precision roller attachment 54 within the receptacle50 of the support 48. FIG. 7 illustrates the precision roller attachment54 with the ball transfer units 102 in a raised position or retractedposition within the receptacle 50, whereas FIG. 8 illustrates theprecision roller attachment 54 with the ball transfer units 102 in alowered position or extended position below the receptacle 50 and,therefore, below the base of the skid body 46. For example, asillustrated by FIG. 7, the height adjustable feature 116 of the screwassembly 98 may be used to raise the ball transfer units 102 from thelowered position to the raised position as indicated by arrow 118, suchthat the spheres 106 do not extend beyond a bottom surface 120 of thereceptacle 50. In this raised position, the bottom surface 120 rests onthe platform 34 such that the precision roller attachment 54 isdisabled, thereby substantially inhibiting movement of the skid 44 alongthe platform 34. A plurality of guiding panels 121 may be connected tothe lower wall 104 to guide the transportation attachment 52, 54vertically along the receptacle 50 (e.g., along axis 114) to maintainalignment (e.g., avoid twisting or binding) as the height adjustablefeature 116 raises or lowers the transportation attachment 52, 54.

As illustrated by FIG. 8, the height adjustable feature 116 of the screwassembly 98 may be used to lower the ball transfer units 102 from theraised position to the lowered position as indicated by arrow 122, suchthat the spheres 106 extend beyond the bottom surface 120 of thereceptacle 50. For example, the screw 112 may be turned to lower the nut110 and the lower wall 104, thereby lowering the ball transfer units 102until the spheres 106 extend beyond the bottom surface 120. In thislowered position, the ball transfer units 102 may allow the skid 44 tobe maneuvered across the platform 34. The height adjustable feature 116of the screw assembly 98 may have a variety of height adjustable ranges.For example, a skid 44 supporting a turbomachine 38 weighingapproximately 1,000 to 10,000 pounds may only need an elevation ofapproximately 1 to 5 millimeters above the platform 34 in order for aperson to maneuver the skid 44 and turbomachine 38. In the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. 2 and 5 to 8, the skid 44 includes a total ofsixteen ball transfer units 102, i.e., four precision roller attachments54 each having four ball transfer units 102. However, other embodimentsmay include 1 to 10 or more ball transfer units 102 per precision rollerattachment 54, and 1 to 10 or more precision roller attachments 54 perskid 44.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are bottom perspective and cross-sectional views of thecorner 72 of the skid 44 of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustratingan embodiment of the transportation attachment 52 (e.g., rough rollertransportation attachment 124) coupled to the support 48 of the modulartransportation system 36. Similar to the precision roller attachment 54,the rough roller transportation attachment 124 may be removably coupledto the receptacle 50 of the support 48 to aid in transportation of theturbomachine 38. The illustrated rough roller attachment 124 includes acaster wheel assembly 126 having an arm 128 supporting a caster wheel130 (e.g., a cylindrical or annular wheel) at a rotational joint 132.The caster wheel assembly 126 also couples to a lower wall 134 at ajoint 136, which may be a fixed joint or a rotational joint. Forexample, the joint 136 may be a rotational joint having a rotationalaxis along the axis 114 of the screw 112, such that the caster wheelassembly 126 has two degrees of freedom to rotate. This allows formotion in all directions across a surface, such as a shop floor,although the movement may be less precise than the movement availablewith the omni-directional precision roller attachment 54. As comparedwith the precision roller attachment 54, the caster wheel 130 of therough roller attachment 124 allows for larger movements of the skid 44along a surface, such as a shop floor, where the supported turbomachine38 may be maintained. For example, a diameter of the caster wheel 130may be substantially larger (e.g., 1.5 to 10 times larger) than thediameter of the spheres 106 of the ball transfer units 102. The largerdiameter of the caster wheel 130 may be selected to account for agreater roughness and/or a greater distance of travel expected along ashop floor or other location, as compared to the smooth surface andsmall distance expected for the precision roller attachment 54. Asfurther illustrated in FIG. 10, the caster wheel assembly 126 mayinclude a brake 138 to selectively disable the caster wheel 130, therebyholding the wheel 130 and thus the skid 44 in a stationary position.

In certain embodiments, the rough roller attachment 124 may include orexclude height adjustable features, such as the height adjustablefeature 116. For example, the lower wall 134 and attached caster wheelassembly 126 may be height adjustable via the screw assembly 98, usingguiding panels 139 connected to the lower wall 134 to guide thetransportation attachment 124 as it is raised and lowered, or the lowerwall 134 and attached caster wheel assembly 126 may be fixed in positionwith the caster wheel 130 extending below the bottom surface 120. Ineither configuration, the screw assembly 98 may be used to selectivelycouple the rough roller attachment 124 to the receptacle 50 of thesupport 48. Furthermore, in either configuration, the skid 44 may belifted by a forklift or crane to enable swapping of the transportationattachments 52, e.g., the precision roller attachment 54, the roughroller attachment 124, and a stabilizer transportation attachment 140.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are bottom perspective and cross-sectional views of thecorner 72 of the skid 44 of FIG. 2, taken within line 3-3, illustratingan embodiment of the transportation attachment 52 (e.g., stabilizertransportation attachment 140) coupled to the support 48 of the modulartransportation system 36. Similar to the precision roller attachment 54and the rough roller attachment 124, the stabilizer transportationattachment 140 may be removably coupled to the receptacle 50 of thesupport 48 to aid in transportation of the turbomachine 38. In theillustrated embodiment, the stabilizer transportation attachment 140includes a leg assembly or stabilization assembly 142 having one or morestabilizers 144 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more) coupled to a lower wall146. For example, the stabilizers 144 may function to level the skid 44,focus the load of the turbomachine 38 at discrete points, and absorbshock or vibration during transportation of the skid 44 on a vehicle(e.g., a bed of a truck, locomotive, ship, or the like). Thus, thestabilizers 144 may include a vibration dampening or energy dissipatingmaterial, a shock absorption assembly (e.g., one or more springs,hydraulic pistons, pressurized chambers, etc.), or any combinationthereof. For example, each stabilizer 144 may include a stabilizer leg148 made at least partially or entirely of a metal, a plastic, a rubber,an elastomeric material, or any combination thereof. Each stabilizer 144also includes a bottom portion or base 150, which may include a texturedsurface with protrusions to help retain the leg 148 in position along asurface (e.g., a bed of a vehicle). While installed on the skid 44, thestabilizer transportation attachments 140 may substantially reducemovement and shock of the turbomachine 38 supported on the skid 44during transportation from one site to another (e.g., between theplatform 34 and a remote site).

In certain embodiments, the stabilizer attachment 140 may include orexclude height adjustable features, such as the height adjustablefeature 116. For example, the lower wall 146 and attached stabilizers144 may be height adjustable via the screw assembly 98, using guidingpanels 151 connected to the lower wall 146 to guide the transportationattachment 140 as it is raised and lowered, or the lower wall 146 andattached stabilizers 144 may be fixed in position with the stabilizers144 extending below the bottom surface 120. In either configuration, thescrew assembly 98 may be used to selectively couple the stabilizerattachment 140 to the receptacle 50 of the support 48. Furthermore, ineither configuration, the skid 44 may be lifted by a forklift or craneto enable swapping of the transportation attachments 52, e.g., theprecision roller attachment 54, the rough roller attachment 124, and thestabilizer attachment 140.

Technical effects of the invention include, among other things, allowinga user to transport a turbomachine supported on a single turbomachineskid between different locations including, but not limited to, a gasturbine platform and a remote servicing site. The skid may be equippedwith a number of different, interchangeable transportation attachments,such as precision roller attachments, rough roller attachments, orstabilizer attachments. The precision roller attachments may allow auser to maneuver a turbomachine supported on the skid between a dockedposition and an undocked position on a gas turbine platform, for removalor insertion of the turbomachine. The stabilizer transportationattachments may be applied to the skid in order to dampen forces thatwould otherwise be transferred to the turbomachine, such as when theskid is transported in a vehicle bed. In addition, the skid may beequipped with the rough roller attachments, which may feature casterwheels with brakes to allow movement of the supported turbomachineacross an open surface, such as a shop floor at a remote turbomachinemaintenance site. Each transportation attachment may be coupled to theskid with the same ACME screw connection, located at receptacles in thecorners of the skid. Such techniques allow for the transportation of aturbomachine from a gas turbine platform to a shop floor of a remotesite and back with a single modular skid.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

1. A system, comprising: a turbomachine skid, comprising: a skid bodyconfigured to support a turbomachine; and a modular transportationsystem, comprising: at least one support disposed on the skid body; andat least one transportation attachment removably coupled to the at leastone support, wherein the at least one transportation attachment isinterchangeable with at least one different transportation attachment.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support comprises areceptacle.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least onetransportation attachment comprises at least one roller.
 4. The systemof claim 3, wherein the at least one roller comprises at least oneomni-directional roller.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at leastone roller comprises at least one spherical wheel.
 6. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the at least one roller comprises at least one annularwheel.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transportationattachment comprises at least two rollers.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the at least one transportation attachment comprises at leastone stabilizer.
 9. The system of claim 1, comprising a height adjusterconfigured to adjust a height of the at least one transportationattachment relative to a base of the skid body.
 10. The system of claim1, wherein the modular transportation system is configured to change theturbomachine skid between a plurality of different transportationconfigurations by interchanging the at least one transportationattachment with the at least one different transportation attachment.11. The system of claim 1, comprising the turbomachine disposed on theskid body.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the turbomachinecomprises at least one component of a turbine system.
 13. A system,comprising: a turbomachine skid, comprising: a skid body configured tosupport a turbomachine; and a modular transportation system comprisingat least one support disposed on the skid body, wherein the at least onesupport is configured to support at least one transportation attachmentselected from a plurality of different transportation attachments. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one support comprises areceptacle configured to at least partially surround the at least onetransportation attachment, and the at least one support comprises aremovable connector configured to removably couple with the at least onetransportation attachment.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the atleast one support comprises a height adjuster configured to adjust aheight of the at least one transportation attachment relative to a baseof the skid body.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality ofdifferent transportation attachments comprises a stabilizer attachment,a precision roller attachment, and a rough roller attachment.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, comprising the at least one transportationattachment selected from the stabilizer attachment, the precision rollerattachment, and the rough roller attachment.
 18. A system, comprising: amodular transportation system configured to change a turbomachine skidbetween a plurality of different transportation configurations, whereinthe modular transportation system comprises a plurality of differenttransportation attachments configured to interchangeably mount to theturbomachine skid.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality ofdifferent transportation attachments comprises a stabilizer attachment,a precision roller attachment, and a rough roller attachment.
 20. Thesystem of claim 18, comprising the turbomachine skid, wherein theplurality of different transportation attachments comprises at least onestabilizer attachment and at least one roller attachment.